Jeremiah 52
PATEzra, who is commonly supposed to have collected tho holy writings into ono body after the captivity. Who designed this brief history of the desolations of tho Jewish nation, as an introduction to the book of Lamentations that follows, and was anciently joined to the prophecy of Jeremiah, as appears from St. Jerome’s epistle to Paulinus. This chapter is chiefly taken out of the latter part of the second book of Kings, with some few additions, which Ezra might supply out of the public records, from whence the books of Kings were compiled: which books were written either in or after the captivity, as may be collected from the Chaldee names, which are given to tho months in those books, which were never used by the Jews till after the captivity. first year of his reign, (Dan. i. 3.) in the eighth year mentioned 2 Kings xxiv. 12. and in the nineteenth, when the city was destroyed, an entire riddance was made of the inhabitants which were left after the former captivities. In the seventh year three thousand Jews, and three-andtwenty.] Upon Jehoiakim’s rebelling against Nebuchadnezzar, he ordered the governors of the neighbouring provinces to make war upon him, who invaded his kingdom from every quarter. The Ammonites, Moabites, and other subjects to tin Babylonish empire, infesting Judea with frequent incursions: (see 2 Kings xxiv. 2, 3.) and in the last year of Jehoiakim’s reign, which is coincident with the seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar, (see Jer. xxv. 1.) the captivity here mentioned happened.
Jeremiah 52:1
A HIS is word for word the same with 2 Kings xxiv. 18—20.
Jeremiah 52:4
And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, &c. See xxxix. 1, &c.
Jeremiah 52:11
And pat him in prison till the day of his death. See the note on xxxix. 7.
Jeremiah 52:12
Noiu in the fifth month.) This gave occasion to that solemn fast of the fifth month, observed in the times of the captivity. (See Zech. vii. 3. 5. viii. 19.) On the tenth day of the month.’] It is said 2 Kings xxv. 7. that Nebuzar-adan came to Jerusalem on the seventh day of the month, but did not set the city and temple on fire till the tenth. Josephus, de Bello Jud. lib. viii. cap. 27. relates this remarkable circumstance that attended the burning of the temple, both under Nebuchadnezzar and Vespasian, that it happened both times on the same day of the year.
Jeremiah 52:13
And burnt the Tiouse of the Lord.) After it had stood, saith Josephus, four hundred and seventy years, (Antiq. lib. x. cap. 11.) Archbishop Usher reckons it four hundred and twenty-four years from the laying the first foundation, by Solomon.
Jeremiah 52:15
See the note on xxxix. 9..-";"
Jeremiah 52:17
Also the pillars of brass, &c. See 2 Kings xxv. 14, &c. The temple was rifled of its riches and furniture at several times: the first was when Nebuchadnezzar came up against Jehoiakim, Dan. i. 2. the second time was at the captivity of Jeconiah; (see xxvii. 19. and 2 Kings xxiY. 13.) and now, at the final destruction of the city and temple, they made a clear riddance of all its ornaments…
Jeremiah 52:20
Twelve brazen bulls which were under the bases. Or rather, which were instead of bases, to support the brazen sea. (See 1 Kings vii. 25.) So the Septuagint understand it. The Hebrew word tachath, elsewhere signifies instead, or in the place of another. (See Lev. xvi. 32. Esth. ii. 17. 2Chron. vi.10.)
Jeremiah 52:21
The height of tlie one pillar was eighteen cubits, &c. The same account is given of the height of these pillars, 1 Kings vii. 15. but in 2 Chron. iii. 15. it is said, that both the pillars made thirty-five cubits; which two texts may easily be reconciled, by allowing one cubit for the basis. And a fillet of twelve cubits did compass it] So’that the diameter was almost four cubits. And the thickness thereof was four fingers.] The pillar being hollow, the thickness of the work that encompassed the IioIIqw space was four fingers over.
Jeremiah 52:22
The height of one chapiter was five cubits. With this account agrees the text in 1 Kings vii. 16. and 2Chron. iii. 15. but in 2 Kings xxv. 17. it is said, the height of the chapiter was three cubits: which difference commentators reconcile, by saying, that the chapiter with the net-work and pomegranates here mentioned, was five cubits high, but without them it was but three.
Jeremiah 52:23
And there were ninety-six pomegranates on a side, and all the pomegranates were a hundred round about. That is, there were four-and-twenty on each side, or quarter, and one in each angle. (Compare 2 Chron. iii. 16.) We read 1 Kings vii. 20. that’there wero two hundred pomegranates to each chapiter, and the text in 2 Chron. iv. 13. agrees with that account: which texts are reconciled, by supposing that there were two rows of pomegranates one above another, and each row consisted of a hundred, and the words in 1 Kings vii. 20. intimate as much. Dr. Lightfoot understands the words in Jeremiah in this sense: When the pillars were set to the wall, only ninetysix pomegranates could be seen; the other four being hid behind the pillar, as it stood up close to the wall: so he translates the former part of the verse thus, And there were ninety-six pomegranates on the open sides, or towards the open air: which sense he conceives the word rnchah to import. (See his Description of the Temple, chap. 13. sect. 2.) Thisis the people whom Nebuchadnezzar carried away captive.] -Archbishop Usher, in his Chronolog. S. p. 36. supposes, that this and the two following verses give an account of the lesser captivities which the Jews suffered under Nebuchadnezzar; whereas, there were three others, in which many more persons were carried away,vzz. in the
Jeremiah 52:24
And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest. See 1 Chron. vi. 14. He was the father of Ezra. (See Ezra vii. 1.) And Zephaniah the second priest.] The high-priest’s substitute, in his absence, to oversee the affairs of the temple. (See xxix. 25.) This person is called the sagan by the Chaldee paraphrast here, and in the parallel place, 2Kings xxv. The latter Jews tell us, it was an especial part of his office to supply the place of the high-priest, on the great day of expiation, if any accident should render him unqualified for officiating himself: of which Josephus gives an instance, Antiq. lib. xvii. cap. 8. And the three keepers of the door.] There were a great many porters belonging to the temple, as has been observed upon xxxv. 4. but these probably had the custody of the holy vessels, or of the treasury. (See 1 Chron. ix. 26. and Dr. Lightfoot’s Description of the Temple, chap. 5. sect. 3.)
Jeremiah 52:25
He took also out of the city an eunuch. The. word is better rendered an officer, 2 Kings xxv. 19. (Sco Jer. xxxiv. 19.) And seven men of them that were near the king’s person.] Who saw the king’s face; as it is in the Hebrew; the same character which is given to the seven princes of Persia, Esth. i. 14. In 2 Kings xxvi. 19. there is mention made but of five. And the principal scribe of the host.] The muster-mastergeneral, as we style him; or the secretary of war. And therefore men — that were found in the midst of the city.] These were eminent persons who had concealed themselves, but were afterward discovered.
Jeremiah 52:29
In the eighteenth of Nebuchadnezzar, &‘c. This was when Nebuchadnezzar raised the siege of Jerusalem, to march against the king of Egypt, who came with a great army to the relief of the place. (See xxxvii. 5.) At which time he sent all the captive Jews which were in his camp to Babylon. (See Archbishop Usher’s Chronolog.S.p.38.)
Jeremiah 52:30
In the three-and-twentieth year of Nebuchadnezzar, &c. When Nebuchadnezzar had laid siege to Tyre, which was in the borders of Judea, Nebuzar-adan made this expedition into the country, and carried with him the captives here mentioned; who seem to be no others than the poor people, that he himself had left to manure the ground, (ver.l.) And this he probably did by way of revenge for the murder of Gedaliah.
Jeremiah 52:31
In the seven-and-thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin, &c. This note of time confirms the observation already made upon xxv. 1. viz. That the Scripture computation of the beginning of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign,.anticipates that of Ptolemy’s canon by two years, which two years he reigned with his father. For if we add the thirty-seven years of his reign here mentioned, to the eight years of it which preceded Jchoiachin’s captivity, (see 2Kings xxiv. 12.) that sum will amount to five-and-forty years: whereas, according to the common account, he reigned but three-and-forty. In the five-and-twentieth day of the month.’] It is the twenty-seventh day, in 2 Kings xxv. 27. This advancement might be resolved upon the twenty-fifth day, but not brought to pass till the twenty-seventh. Evil-Merodach.] His name was Merodach, a name common among the kings of Babylon. (See Isa. xxxix. 1.) But he had this mark of distinction given him by way of reproach, for the word implies as much as foolish Merodach, because he was a profligate and vicious prince. In the first year of his reign.] The words arc better rendered in 2 Kings xxv. 28. In tJie year when he began to reign. Lifted up the head of Jehoiachin, and brought him out of prison.] St. Jerome, in his commentaries upon Isa. xiv. reports, from an ancient tradition of the Jews, that Evil-Merodach having had the government of the Babylonish empire during his father’s distraction, used his power so ill, that as soon as the old king came to himself, he put him in prison for it, where he contracted a particular acquaintance with Jehoiachin, who was his fellow-prisoner, and that this was tho cause of the great kindness he expressed towards him.
Jeremiah 52:32
Above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon. Who had the title of kings reserved to them after their captivity, as Poms had after he was vanquished by Alexander.
Jeremiah 52:33
He did continually eat bread before him. Sat with him at his own table. (Compare 2 Sam. ix. 7. 11.)
Jeremiah 52:34
For his diet, there was a continual diet given him,&c. This allowance was for his attendants and family. (See ibid. ver. 10,) vol. in.